Master of Arts [M.A] [English] From University of Central Missouri

Our graduate seminars are taught by experts in many different areas of English studies, from medieval literature to contemporary fiction, rhetoric to literary theory. The program will give you extensive and broad knowledge of English literature and also allows you to specialize in areas you find particularly interesting.

In the M.A. program, you?ll learn from active scholars contributing to their area of expertise, and you?ll start joining the many exciting scholarly conversations in English studies. You?ll also join a community of enthusiastic graduate students who apply what they learn here to their own classrooms, to conference papers and publications, to doctoral programs, and to everything else they read and write.

Our graduates are using their M.A. degree in a variety of settings. Many are employed as high school teachers, where they apply their expertise in literature to improve their students? learning outcomes and teach dual-credit English classes. Others are teaching composition at two-year colleges in the region. Others are building on their success at UCM in Ph.D. programs at major research universities, and others are applying their skills in writing and research to private-sector employment.

Student Learning Outcomes- The graduate with a Master of Arts degree in English will use the knowledge and skills obtained in the program to:

• Demonstrate general knowledge of the history and variety of literature written in English, primarily British and American.
• Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of a specific literary topic.
• Demonstrate awareness of human diversity as expressed in literature.
• Demonstrate familiarity with scholarly methodologies (historical and contemporary), literary terminology, use of secondary sources, and principles of documentation.
• Formulate original research questions, apply appropriate technologies, and incorporate results into formal oral and written presentations.
• Demonstrate increasing ability to write with clarity, style, and originality.

This program is designed for people who wish to pursue the study of language and literature at an advanced and scholarly level for personal enrichment, career advancement, or further graduate study. Students must have a minimum of 20 credits at the 5000 level and above in their degree program. Two or more advanced undergraduate courses (taken as an undergraduate) in any of the required categories/historical periods will fulfill (without credit) the graduate requirement in that category. A comprehensive examination, OR a three-credit research project, OR thesis is required.